Tie plate



May 3 1927.

v l 1,626,631 R. T. scHoLEs TIE PLATE Filed May 6. 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 2 HJ l v @ggyfyg @3f/@$294192 Y? I 1,626, 1 May 3 1927 R. T. scHoLEs 63 TIE PLATE Filed May G. 1926- Z ts-Sheet .2

f4 Eug y n. nulnumll y V n "g5/0x8' Inxfen o1' mbafdfdfos (dit orneys Patented May 3, 1927. i

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`RICHARD T. SGHOLES, OF HIINSDALE, ILLNOIS.

TIE PLATE.

appneation me@ may s, 192e. `seran no. 107,059.

This invention relates to an improved tieplate, as used byrailroads for supporting the rails upon the wooden ties. The plates prevent the rails from working down into the ties, and also assistthe spikes in transferring the lateral thrusts of the rails to the ties and thence to the road-bed.

rEhe general object is to provide a simple, efficient and durable plate, in which the maferial is reduced to a practical minimum without sacrificing any necessaryv strength or rigidity.

Another-object is to provide va tie plate of cantilever design, wherein the material through the central portion of the plateis substantially reduced, and one which will at the same time furnish ample strengthand stiffness to resist the tendency of the plate to buckle or bend under load.-

' of transverse ribs vwhich assist in supporting the rail base, and are so designed and directed as to'most efficiently transmit the lateral thrusts between the two rail-supportprevent any buckling or bending of the plate, due to the removal of material through the central zone thereof.

Another object is tovprovide a tie-plate 'which can be easily and economically rolled, without necessitating any subsequent machining operation except shearing off the plate and punching the spike holes.

detailed description of certainv improved f embodiments thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one approved form of the tie-plate.-

-Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the tie-plate.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section, taken substantially on line3-8 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections corresponding to' Fig. 3," showing modifications of thevshown in Fig.`8, except the lower edge of.

transverse recesses.

F igs.v 6, 7', 8 and 9 show modified forms-of Another object isto provide a tie plate ing halves of the plate so as to efficiently.

Other objects and advantages of this in-yl vention will be apparent from the followingV the tie-engaging rib on the lower face of the plate. v

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, similar to Flg. 1, showing a.l modified form ot' tieplate.v

Fig.` 11A is a transverse vertical section, similar to Fig. 2, through the modification shown in Fig. 10.

F ig'. 12 isa rview similar to Fig. 11, showing another modification.

Referring first to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the tie plate l is of substantially rectangular outline, comprising a relatively tliick central rail supporting portion 2, and thinner tapering side flange portions 3 and 4 adapted to extend laterally to some dis-e tance at the sides of the rail base to provide anincreased supporting area, and to transmit the tilting stresses to the tie. The plate is provided with the usual spike openings 5, through which spikes are driven into the tie to secure the rail and tie-plate to the tie. The plate is also provided with the upstanding shoulder 6, to abut one-edge of the rail and transmit the lateralor outward thrust of the rail to thetie-plate.

The lower surface 7 of the plate is substantially flat, to provide ya continuous and even tie-engaging surface except for the longitudinal ribs 8 which are to be pressed into the tie to prevent lateral shifting movement bet-Ween the tie and tie plate. The ribs 8 are preferably rounded, both at their lower extremities and .at the sides where they emergeinto the bottom 7 of the plate, so as to avoid cutting and damaging the fibres of the tie when the ribs are pressed into the tie by the downward pressure on the tie plate.- -While the preferred form of rib shown in Figs. 1 and 2, some possible modifications of this rib are indicated in en` largedv sections in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive.'

' Fig. -7shows a rib 9 which is downwardly tapered or of triangular cross-section, and is ofA a type heretofore 'often used on tie 100 plates. Y v

Fig. 8 shows a rib, the lower portion of whichl is tapered at 1() 'and 11 at a-'much more obtuse anglel than therib 9 shown in Fig. 7, andthe upper portionsof this rib are rounded, as at 12, to merge into the lower surface of the tie '.plate. The rib 13 shown in Fig. 6 is quite similar to that.

the ribis flattened or cut away, as indicated tend substantially at right angles to the side ribs 17 and 18. Between the'ribs 19.

the plate is hollowed out or recessed, as 1ndicated at 20. The primary purpose of these recesses is to decrease the weight or amount ot' the material in the tie plate, and these recesses and `the ribs 19 are so designed that this absence ot'. material does not materially decrease the strength or rigidity of the plate. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, these 21, the bottom of each recess curving grad- .ually upward, as indicated at 22, until they merge with the upper surfaces the railsupporting ribs 17 and 18. Thls bottom contour of the recess might differ from that indicated in Fig. 2, that is the recesses might be dee er orshallower toward the ends thereo it usually being'preierable, except as hereinafterv noted, that the design be such that the maximum material is removed from the central portions of the plate and the thickness gradually increased toward eitherside thereof. As indicated in Fig. 3, the bottoms21 otl the recesses are rounded at 23 to merge into the sides of the ribs 19, .and the upper edges of .l he ribs are preferably rounded, as indicated atA 24. This rounded constructionnot only improvesthe strength of thev construction, but also facilitates the rolling operation by which the plate is formed. I

Other possible modifications' 'of' the transdicated in Fi s. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4, the recesses' are sma ler, With rounded bottoms 25, which merge vdirectly into the reverse curves 26 extending into the top of the ribs 19. In

` Fig. 5, the recesses are larger, having side portions 27 formed much the same as in Fig. 4, but with a flattened bottom 28.

In certain prior constructions, the weight of the tie plate hasl been decreased by hollowing out or recessing th' lower surface of the plate, in various manners. The`efect of this is to decrease' the uniformity of the tieengaging surface,thus increasing and loca'lizing the wear on the tie and the damage to the tie fibers. Furthermore the plate is soV weakened centrally that there is a tendency for,the wheel load transmitted through the rail to cause the plate to buckle downwardly at the middle. In other forms of tie-plates,

.I the'weivht has"l been decreased by removing,

material from they upper, rail-supporting portion of theplate, but vin( Such previous recesses are deepest at 'their central portions verse cross section of the recesses 2O are inconstructions the'` material .has been so removed that the strength and rigidity of the plate have been materially lessened.

The 'lower surface of the plate is perfectly flat with the exception -of the ribs 8 extending under and parallel to the edgesof the rail base. The ribsV are so designed as to avoid cutting the fiber ol the tie, and the flat bottomoi' the plate etl'ccts a l'naxinium uniformityof distribution oi' the pressure on the surface of the tie, and results in a minimum'of damage to the tie liber, at the same time producing u'hatis considered lo be ample resistance to the tendency ol' the tie plate to move laterally on the tie.

' It will be noted that the body oi the tic plate (disregarding for the present the ribs 19) is substantially of thel approved-cantilever construction. 'lhe two halves of the plate are of o'reatest thickness at the ribs.

17 and 18 which support the edges ofthe n rail, and each half of the plate tapers in both directions from this main'supporting rib, in one direction toward the side edge of the tie plate, and in the other direction toward the thinner central portion 21. On-

this cantilever body has been superimposed a plurality of transverse ribs 1-9. These ribs serve two purposes. First, in conjunction with the side ribs 17 and 18, they provide.

as a cantilever, and a maximum strength (or moment of inertia) in the .middle as a simple beam, as compared with other tie plates now being manufactured and in common use, or as compared with previously proposed tie plate` designs. It also produces, for a given size of tie plate, a mini-v mum unit pressure on the surface of the tie, dueto the flat unbroken bottom surface and the uniform distribution of pressure. The

' desigm'therefore, effects `fora given amount of metal a maximum of resistance to flexurc under the load transmitted by the rail, and at the same time al minimum otunit pressure on the surface of the tie, thereby reducing damage to the fiber of the tie, due to pressure and uneven application of the pressure.

In Figs. l0 and 11 is `shown a modified form .of the tie. plate, these figures being viously described in connection with Figs.

1 and 2 will not be again referred to. In

lil() and 18, this form of the tie plate is provided with a central rail-supporting rib 29,

preferably extending substantially parallel to the side ribs 17 and 18. Ribs 18 and 29 arel connected by spaced transverse ribs 30, and ribsV 17 and 29 are connected by similar transverse ribs 31, the ribs 30 and 31 being preferably continuations of' one another and.

corresponding to the ribs 19 previously described. The recesses 32 between these ribs are substantially the same in all respects as the recesses 20 hereinabove described in detail, except thatthey are necessarily considerably shorter in view of the closer spacings of the ribs 18 and 29, and 17 and 29. rlhis modified forni of tie plate will obviously be lsomewhat stronger than the form first described, due to the additional support-ing rib 29 and the necessarily greater amount of metal used. Otherwise, it will have many of the saine advantages claimed for the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

lf the tie-plate is. properly seated on the tie, with the entire lower plane surface in engagement with the flat surface of the tie, the true cantilever construction heretofore described is the preferable design. However, workmen when providing seats'for the plates, are apt to adze out the tie beneath the plate, that is provide a concave seat so that only the side. edges of the tie plate sustain the load, at least until the plate has become imbedded in the tie. ln such cases an added strain is thrown on the central portion of the plate tending to buckle it downward in the middle. The plate may be strengthened to resist this central bending pressure by providing the added central rib shownin Figs. 10 and 11, or this construction may be approximated as shown in Fig. 12. In this forni the central portion of each transverse recess is made shallower to provide a central longitudinal rib 33, which is not as high as the central rib 29 in Figs. 10 and 11 and does not act as a .rail-support, but merely adds strength to the central portion of the plate where the downward buckling might occur if the plate were not properly seated on the tie.

It will be noted that both surfaces of the plate are of such design that the plates can' ribs onl its upper portion, the plate decreasing progressively in thickness from each rib toward the side edges of the plate, and also from each rib toward the center of the y plate, and a series of spaced transverse ribs bridging the thinner central portion, and forming additional rail base support-ing means.l v 'i i 2. A tie-plate of cantilever construction, comprising a pair of parallel'longitudinally extending. rail-supporting portions so spaced as to underlie the edges of .the frailv base, the plate gradually decreasing in thickness from each of these rail-supporting portions toward the central portionA of the plate f i and a'series of spaced transverse railsup porting ribs bridging the area of decreased thickness, the ribs extending substantially at right angles to the first mentioned rail-supporting portions. v i

A tie-plate having a rail-supporting surface consisting ot' continuous parallel longitudinal ribs supporting the edges of the rail base, and a series of parallel transverse ribs positioned substantially at right angles to and connecting the longitudinalribs, the plate between the transverse lribs being recessed, the recesses being deepest at the center and the bottoms curvinggradiially upward to the level of the longitudinal ribs'.

4. A tie-plate having a rail-supporting surface consisting of continuous parallel longitudinal ribs supporting the `edges of the rail base, and a series of arallel transverse ribs positioned substantiaily at right angles to and connecting the longitudinal ribs, the; plate .between the transverse ribsV being formed with transversely elongated recesses, the recesses being'deepest at their centers, with their bottoms rounded to merge into the sides of the transverse ribs, and curving gradually upwards transversely of the plate ing surface consist-ing of continuous parall lel'longitudinal ribs for supporting the edge portions of the rail-base, and a series of parallel transverse ribs positioned substantially at right angles to the longitudinal ribs, the

plate being recessed between the transverse ribs, the recesses' being deepest at their eenters, with their bottoms rounded to merge into the sides of the ribs, and curving gradually upwards transversely of the plate to the '.evel of the longitudinalribs.

6. A tie-plate having an upper rail-supporting surface consisting of three parallel longitudinal ribs, the two outer ribs supporting the edge portions of the rail base, and the third rib centrally supportingthe rail,` and a plurality of spaced transverse ribs positioned substantially at right angles to rand connecting the longitudinal ribs, the

- the recesses being deepest at -their central v plate being recessed between the Several ribs.

7. A tie-plate having an upper railsuporting surface consisting of three parallel ongitudinal ribs, `the two louter' ribs supporting the edge portions of the rail base, and tl'le'third rib centrally supporting the rail, and a plurality of spaced transverse ribs positioned substantially at right angles to and connecting the longitudinal ribs, the plate being recessed between the several ribs,

portions with their bottom surfaces curving upwardly to merge lnto the longitudinal ribs. A

8. A tie-plate of cantilever construction, l5

having a lsubstantially lat lower tie-engaging surface, and a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rail-supporting ribs on its upper portion, the plate decreasing progressively in thickness from each rib toward 20 the sidel edges and toward the center of the plate, and a series of spaced transverse railsupporting ribs bridging the central area of decreased thickness whereby the sustained Weight is distributed uniformly to the flat A25 lower surface of the plate to give the minimum unit pressure on the tie.

RICHARD T. SCHOLES. 

